Letter To The Editor

You've probably heard that our Homeland Security department recently raised the terrorism threat level to orange (high condition). This week, FBI Director Bob Mueller was quoted as saying that "small-scale attacks" against very public facilities such as "banks, shopping malls, supermarkets, apartment buildings, schools and universities, and places of recreation and entertainment would be easier to execute and would have a lower risk of detection." Not surprisingly, universities and colleges around the nation have heightened their own awareness about these issues. I am writing this letter to UB's students to assure you that the university has taken strong and appropriate action in response to the new alert statutes.

Please note that no information has been received to date to indicate that UB or any other college or university faces a specific threat.

We are very plugged in to security here. You may not see what's happening, but rest assured, mechanisms are in place to ensure UB is safe and secure for the entire university community.

Safe and Secure

Since Sept. 11, 2001, UB has worked hard to upgrade our safety environment and improve emergency planning and response. Some of our current programs include new emergency planning, response and communications systems; safety reviews of all UB buildings; new coordination with local, state and national response networks; additional training for University Police and occupational/environmental personnel; greater security presence, particularly at major events; and links to New York State's terrorism alert network.

In response to the current situation, this week UB has undertaken several activities including but not limited to:

• Increasing security patrols and surveillance, particularly in sensitive locations and large crowd areas.


• Assessing campus availability of key resources such as food, water and power in case of emergencies.
  

If needed, the university would rely on its new Incident Command System (ICS) for emergency response and management. The ICS would organize essential systems operations and resources, manage basic responses, establish an emergency response center and provide for campus communications.

What Can You Do?

Given the current threat level and the FBI commentary, you can help us locally prepare for emergencies by:

• Being aware of your surroundings and reporting any suspicious activity to Public Safety (645-2222) or alerting off-campus law enforcement to anything that seems out of the ordinary away from UB.


• Responding to the national recommendation by being prepared with a short-term personal disaster kit, including some clothing, medications, identification and other supplies.


• Reassuring your family and friends back home. Parents and guardians are bound to be concerned. Give them a call and tell them what's going on. And set up alternative methods of communication to notify them in case of an emergency.

Most importantly, be alert and don't be afraid to call someone if you're concerned. Never be afraid to contact Public Safety if you see something that doesn't look right.

In the unlikely event of an emergency, look to these places for updates and information:

UB listserv emails

www.buffalo.edu or www.myub.buffalo.edu

Call 645-NEWS

Residence Hall/Student cable television network

Campus radio WBFO-FM 88.7

Local media outlets

Residence hall staff

Information counters at the Student Union (North Campus) and Harriman Student Center (South Campus)

What's Next?

We will be working with student leaders in the days and weeks ahead on these and other possible actions to increase our level of campus security. To stay up to date on our government's advice, take a look at the links below.

These are times of great national uncertainty and the roles we now play must be played together. Working together is what the UB community is all about.

Public Safety: 645-2222 or ub-publicsafety@buffalo.edu

Counseling Center: 645-2720 or ub-counseling.buffalo.edu

Campus Ministries Association: 645-2998, wings.buffalo.edu/religious/ministries

www.fema.gov/areyouready